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Pencil sketch portrait of Nora AshbyNora Ashby

Nora Ashby is the pen name of DrawBySight's editor. She writes for adults who want to draw realistic portraits from photos: patient step-by-step guides to eyes, hair, skin and shading, practical fixes for drawings that "look off", and candid reviews of drawing courses.

How to Shade a Face in Pencil: Smooth Skin Without Blotches

November 3, 2026 by Nora Ashby
A nine-step value scale from white paper to black with the pencil grades 2H to 8B under each step

How to shade a face in pencil: map light and shadow, layer graphite for smooth skin, blend without smudging, and fix blotchy or patchy shading.

Categories Skin & Shading 1 Comment

How to Draw a Realistic Eye for Beginners: Step-by-Step in Pencil

November 3, 2026 by Nora Ashby
Realistic graphite pencil drawing of a human eye showing a catchlight, shaded iris, moisture line and eyelashes

How to draw a realistic eye for beginners: shape, iris, catchlight, the wet look, lashes and brows, with pencil grades and fixes for common mistakes.

Categories Facial Features Leave a comment

Grid Method Drawing: How to Enlarge a Photo Accurately (4×6 to 8×10)

November 3, 2026 by Nora Ashby
Diagram showing a 4x6 photo cropped to 4x5 with a 1-inch grid and an 8x10 sheet with a matching 2-inch grid

Grid method drawing step by step: choosing square size, enlarging a 4×6 photo for an 8×10 drawing, transferring a portrait and erasing grid lines cleanly.

Categories Grid & Transfer Leave a comment

How to Shade Hair in Pencil (Including White and Grey Hair)

November 3, 2026 by Nora Ashby
Graphite pencil portrait of a woman with white and grey wavy hair, created by shading the gaps between locks and leaving paper for the highlights

How to shade hair in pencil without drawing every strand: value shapes, direction, highlights, and how to shade white, grey and blonde hair.

Categories Hair & Beards 1 Comment

How to Draw Teeth Without Outlining Every Tooth (Realistic Smile)

November 3, 2026 by Nora Ashby
Graphite pencil drawing of a smile with teeth, the teeth mostly left white with soft shading between them and darker corners

How to draw teeth that look white and real: shade the gaps instead of outlining each tooth, draw a smile with teeth, and fix teeth that look fake.

Categories Facial Features Leave a comment

How to Draw Realistic Lips With Pencil: A Step-by-Step Guide

November 3, 2026 by Nora Ashby
Graphite pencil drawing of realistic slightly parted lips shaded without an outline, with a highlight on the lower lip

How to draw realistic lips with pencil: shape, the lip line, shading the upper and lower lip, cracks and highlights, without outlining. Grades and fixes.

Categories Facial Features 1 Comment

The Best Online Drawing Courses for Realistic Pencil Portraits

November 3, 2026 by Nora Ashby
Laptop showing an online drawing lesson next to pencils, eraser and a portrait sketch

The best online drawing courses for realistic pencil portraits compared: Pencil Drawing Made Easy, Proko, Domestika, Udemy, Skillshare and Craftsy.

Categories Courses & Reviews 1 Comment

Pencil Drawing Made Easy Review: What You Get, Price and Who It Suits

November 3, 2026 by Nora Ashby
Artist drawing a realistic pencil portrait from a reference photo on a tablet

Our Pencil Drawing Made Easy review covers what’s inside Nolan Clark’s 42-hour course, the price, bonuses, refund policy, pros, cons and who it suits.

Categories Courses & Reviews Leave a comment

Latest guides

  • How to Shade a Face in Pencil: Smooth Skin Without Blotches
  • How to Draw a Realistic Eye for Beginners: Step-by-Step in Pencil
  • Grid Method Drawing: How to Enlarge a Photo Accurately (4×6 to 8×10)
  • How to Shade Hair in Pencil (Including White and Grey Hair)
  • How to Draw Teeth Without Outlining Every Tooth (Realistic Smile)
  • How to Draw Realistic Lips With Pencil: A Step-by-Step Guide

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